James Madison battles wind to win CAA women's golf title

Sunday

Apr 21, 2013 at 4:38 PM

UNC-Wilmington ran out of holes Sunday afternoon in the CAA Women's Golf Championship.

By Brian MullBrian.Mull@StarNewsOnline.com

St. James | James Madison learned from falling short a year ago, while UNC-Wilmington ran out of holes Sunday afternoon in the CAA Women's Golf Championship at the Reserve at St. James.Runner-up last year, the Dukes overcame blustery winds and final-round nerves to protect their overnight lead and survive with an eight-shot victory over the Seahawks, who were doomed by an awful opening round and trailed the leaders by 17 strokes entering Sunday's final round.JMU's Shabril Brewer entered the day with a 10-shot lead, and despite a rough stretch in the middle of the round, hung on to take medalist honors by five shots over Lori Beth Adams of UNCW.Patience fueled the Dukes' first tournament title since Sept. 2007 and first CAA crown since 2005, coach Paul Golden said. Leading by 11 over Richmond and Xavier thru 36 holes, no JMU player broke 80 on Sunday. “Everybody was fighting the nerves a little bit, but we hadn't been there in a long time,” Golden said. “I think it helped a lot that four of the gals who played on the team last year were on this team. I think we'll grow from this. We needed a big shot of confidence.”The wind swirled through the pine trees, gusted to 30 miles per hour, blew hats off heads, leaves across greens and made club selection a guess and a hope. Only six players in the field of 45 broke 80, and the average score was 85.80, four shots higher than in Saturday's second round.Brewer set the Reserve Club women's record with a 4-under 68 on Saturday, and that proved to be the difference in both the individual and team battles. That seven-birdie effort put her on “cloud nine,” she said. In the final round, she shook off early nerves. After going 6-over on holes 7 thru 12 – all played into the teeth of the wind - she recovered to play the final six holes one over to secure the titles.“I wasn't hitting any bad shots,” she said. “Being frustrated would not help because that's just going to make things worse. Honestly, I didn't let it bother me because I was giving my best effort on each shot.”Brewer shot 76-68-81-225.UNCW fought back into contention behind the two best rounds of the day. Megan Burnham shot 75 to rocket from 25th to 7th and Adams birdied 17 to record a 76 and complete a strong comeback from an opening 83.She said the last two days proved the Seahawks' resolve, after an opening round 332 put them 19 shots out of the lead. The Seahawks return four of their top five players next year, but Adams' season will likely continue. She's expected to receive an individual berth to an NCAA Regional. Those bids will be announced on April 29.